This Memorial Day, we honor those who serve in the military and those who lost their lives defending our country. With gratitude for our freedoms, we lean into summer, embracing the daylight, sunshine, outdoor activities, season of visitors, and the natural beauty that surrounds us. Check out the latest Homer happenings with these Best Bets.

BEST LAST DANCE BET: Contra Dances will take a break for summer, with the last dance on Wednesday, May 24, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at SPARC. All ages are welcome to this event with Spit City Slickers playing and guest Wendy Graham calling. Bring clean shoes or socks and a water bottle. There is a fee payable at the door. For more information, email homerakcontra@gmail.com. SPARC, 600 Sterling Highway.

BEST FOREST STORIES BET: The Pratt Museum & Park hosts special exhibit, “In a Time of Change: Boreal Forest Stories” on Thursday, May 25 with a reception 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a talk at 5 p.m. by Mary Beth Leigh, program director and professor at University of Alaska Fairbanks. This cross-disciplinary, collaborative narrative project examines change in the boreal forest. For over a year and a half, artists, writers, environmental educators, and humanities scholars exchanged knowledge and perspectives with scientists on the boreal forest and explored narrative as it applies across the disciplines. Through their original works, participants relate stories rooted in the boreal forest, including its ecology and inhabitants and their interactions. This reception is free and open to the public. Exhibit will run through September 23, 2023. For more information, call 907-235-8635 or stop by 3779 Bartlett Street.

BEST HONOR OUR VETERANS BET: Celebrate our veteran’s on National Poppy Day, Friday, May 26 by wearing a red poppy. In addition to many small cans with poppies placed at businesses around town, Homer’s American Legion Auxiliary will be distributing poppies at Safeway on Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Donations will be accepted to support veterans and families on the Lower Peninsula. For more information, contact American Legion Auxiliary Unit 16 at 907-235-8864 or alegionaux16@gmail.com.

BEST PLANTS, PLANTS & MORE PLANTS BET: Stop by the Pratt Museum & Park on Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for their annual plant sale and at the Homer Chamber of Commerce, 11 a.m. until they sell out for the Homer Garden Club’s annual plant sale. For more information on the Pratt sale, 907-235-8635, stop by 3779 Bartlett Street. For the garden club sale, visit them on Facebook, Homer Garden Club, and stop by the sale, 201 Sterling Highway.

BEST FARMERS MARKET OPENING DAY BET: The Homer Farmers Market opens for the season on Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with approximately 40 vendors. Stop by and support the local market and vendors who will include those selling produce, seafood, cottage food, hot food, baked goods, ceramics, prints, clothing, beauty products, jewelry, and more. Musicians are invited to stop by and play on a first come first serve basis every Saturday between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Returning this year are the Bike Bucks program, SNAP matching up to $40/market and merchandise sales. Find the Homer Farmers Market at 1155 Ocean Drive.

BEST NATURE JOURNALING BET: Pratt Museum & Park hosts Homer artist Kim McNett and her beginner-friendly field sketching and recording techniques that will strengthen your observation and appreciation of the natural world. Journaling for kids takes place Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., May 25, June 1, 8 and 15, $10/class. Journaling for adults takes place Fridays, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., May 26, and June 2 and 16, $25/class. Workshops include a blank journal and use of all needed supplies. Space is limited and need-based scholarships are available by emailing education@prattmuseum.org. Registration information is available online at prattmuseum.org. For more information, call 907-235-8635 or stop by 3779 Bartlett Street.

BEST BOB THE BOOKMOBILE BET: BOB the Bookmobile is on the move this summer, bringing books and Story Hours to you and your family. Find BOB at Karen Hornaday Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 25 to June 29, 4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and at Homer High School on Thursdays, June 2 to Aug. 1, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Special Story Hours include Bishop’s Beach on Tuesday, June 7, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Spit Boat House Pavilion on Tuesday, July 11, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and at the library’s Story Walk Trail on the first Wednesday and Friday of June, July, and August, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information, stop by the Homer Public Library, 500 Hazel Avenue.

BEST PIER ONE SEASON KICKOFF BET: Pier One Theatre presents Cosmic Hostel, written and directed by Sally Oberstein, a colorful comedy that tells the story of a mother and son operating a remote Alaskan hostel and the interactions between them, their staff, and guests. The play runs May 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m., May 28 at 3 p.m. which is a masks required performance, and 7:30 p.m., and June 1, 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Pier One Theatre on the Spit. Tickets can be reserved at https://pieronetheatre.org/tickets or by calling the Pier One office at 907-226-2287. Get tickets in person at the office Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 332 E Pioneer Avenue, above the Homer Bookstore. 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., every day through May 28. Pier One’s Theatre on the Spit, 3858 Homer Spit Road.

BEST YOUTH LUNCH PROGRAM BET: Glacierview Baptist Church will be providing free Summer Lunch for teens and kids starting May 30. Stop by the church Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch to go on a first come, first served basis. Lunch will include peanut butter and jelly or turkey and cheddar sandwich on white bread, a bag of chips, fruit snacks, a juice box, and a granola bar. For more information, contact the church at 907-235-8779. Glacierview Baptist Church, 960 East End Road.

BEST SHARE YOUR RECIPE BET: If you have a recipe and/or story about life, love, and adventure at the End of the Road, the Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center is gathering both for their Cookbook 75 Project. For more information on how to submit recipes and stories, email to donna@homerbythebay.com.

Fiddlehead ferns poke through last year’s leaves along the Reber Trail on Friday, May 19.

Photos by Christina Whiting Alan Cresswell from France and the U.S. and Annina from Switzerland enjoy coffee and sunshine on the Homer Spit boardwalk on Tuesday, May 16.